Sharad Pawar-led NCP joins Uddhav Sena-MNS alliance for BMC polls

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief party spokesperson Sanjay Raut announced here on Saturday that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has joined the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alliance to contest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election to be held on January 15.

The development came after Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Jayant Patil met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his ‘Matoshree’ residence in Bandra East on Friday and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP’s talks with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to enter into an alliance broke down in Pune.

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It may be recalled that on Thursday, Congress party’s Maharashtra state president Harshwardhan Sapkal told media persons that talks have begun with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in order to form an alliance to contest the forthcoming elections to municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“Discussions are underway with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena as a constituent party of Maha Vikas Aghadi and the INDIA alliance. The local leaders of the Congress have been instructed to do so. Apart from this, no proposal has been received from any party for an alliance. If such a proposal is received, it will be considered,” Sapkal stated on Thursday.

Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, Raut said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray held discussions with Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Jayant Patil on Friday, after which a seat-sharing formula was decided.

“The Shiv Sena lost a few seats to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, but typically this happens in an alliance. Our position has always been that a senior leader like Sharad Pawar and his party should be together with us. Most of the seats which Sharad Pawar’s NCP wanted from us have been given to his party. The NCP has asked for a few more seats, which unfortunately went to the MNS. But still, we are sure that we can satisfy them (Sharad Pawar-led NCP),” Raut said.

“Sharad Pawar is a senior leader. We all feel that he should be with us. We all wanted a senior leader like him and his party to be in the alliance. In fact, NCP leaders like Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, Shashikant Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray did their best to achieve that outcome. We all have prepared a good formula for seat allocation in Mumbai. We were able to give them the seats they wanted,” Raut said.

“Due to the seat distribution adjustments between the Shiv Sena, MNS and NCP alliance in Mumbai, many existing Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena corporators have lost their seats. Due to this, some of our workers are unhappy, but this is how it works in an alliance. Later on, after coming to power, many posts became available. We will accommodate the aspirations of all those who have lost their seats for the sake of the Shiv Sena-MNS-NCP alliance later,” Raut added.

Raut also confirmed that discussions to craft a four-party alliance are on to contest the Pune Municipal Corporation election.

“In Pune, discussions are currently underway between four parties, namely the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP as well as the Raj Thackeray-led MNS. A decision regarding an alliance in Pune will be taken in a day or two,” Raut said.

However, when asked why Congress does not want MNS along with it in Mumbai, Raut said, “Mumbai is considered as a separate state by everyone, except us. That is why they make such decisions. However, for us in the Shiv Sena, Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and our position is that the rights of the Marathi people in Mumbai should remain intact.”

Raut also stated that the BJP is doing everything to ensure the defeat of the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Shinde’s Thane stronghold.

Raut criticised the fact that the list of BJP’s star campaigners includes names of leaders from North India. “BJP leaders in Mumbai no longer have any faith in their own campaigning. Therefore, they are importing leaders from North India for campaigning in Mumbai. The BJP might even bring Kuldeep Sengar, Ram Rahim and Asaram Bapu to campaign in Mumbai,” Raut said sarcastically.